Absolute Beginners

Guide to Drupal

The OSWay
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Introduction
Install
Create
Extend
Design
Practice

The OSWay
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Introduction
Install
Create
Extend
Design
Practice

Drupal
What? A Content Management System
When? Started in 2000 by Dries Buytaert
a student at a university in Belgium.

What is a Content
Management System (CMS)?

a software platform that aids in the management of content on

a Web site.
http://www.anvilmediainc.com/search-engine-marketing-glossary.html

a software application that makes it possible for non-technical

users to publish content to a website. A CMS serves as a store
for a wide range of information assets, including text, image
databases and so on.
www.publiclife.co.uk/glossary.html

What is a Content
Management System (CMS)?
Content
Creative Writing,
Editing, HTML

Creative Design
Site Design and Page
Layout, Information
Architecture, Usability
Design

Technical Design
Custom Programming,
Database, PHP, AJAX,
JavaScript, etc.

The Drupal Business Model

Drupal is free.
How is that possible? Drupal is run by
volunteers working for Drupal businesses.
Drupal is free: but Drupal sites often arent.

The Business Behind Drupal

Drupal is still led by its founder, Dries
Buytaert.
His company Acquia runs much of
Drupals products, services and support

What Does Drupal Mean?

Drupal is a misspelling of drop in Dutch.
That explains the logos:

Users: White House

Department of Commerce

Department of Education

Grammy Awards

Christina Aguilera

Major League Soccer

Rafael Nadal

No False Promises
HUGE learning curve beyond the basics

No False Promises

HUGE learning curve beyond the basics

Quicker, but good sites still take time
Cheaper, but may cost $XX,XXX or more
More Options, but custom work often needed

No False Promises
Drupal is not right for every site
WordPress = very easy, but few features
Joomla = easier, but less flexibility

Why use Drupal 7?

Drupal 5
Launched 2007. Updates have ended
Drupal 6
Launched 2008. Still actively developed
and used for 95% of sites.
Drupal 7
Launched 2011.

The OSWay
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Introduction
Install
Create
Extend
Design
Practice

Installation #1 Automatic

Installation #2 Manual

Installation #3 Cloud

Installation #4 ... Desktop

Admin Area
Username: admin
Password: admin

Admin Area

The OSWay
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Introduction
Install
Create
Extend
Design
Practice

Content Workflow
1) Content types
2) Fields (if extra data needed)
3) Taxonomy (if categories needed)
Vocabulary
Terms
4) Create Content

Content Workflow
1) Content types
Control over how content is added to your site.
Goes way beyond the typical Title and Body
fields.
Allows for custom data fields to be attached to
Drupal entities (content nodes, users, taxonomy
vocabularies, etc.) and takes care of storing,
loading, editing, and rendering field data.
(Fields Module)

Content Workflow
2) Fields
Where content is added to your site.
Can be sorted, selected, presented in any
setting.
Allow for customizing your content for maximum
flexibility.

Content Workflow
3) Taxonomy
Categorization
Set up Master Categories = Vocabulary
Set up Sub Categories = Terms
Drupal then creates master links for each term

Content Workflow
4) Create Content

Planning

The OSWay
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Introduction
Install
Create
Extend
Design
Practice

A. Modules Workflow
1) Download
2) Install
3) Enable
4) Configure

drupal.org/project/modules

DrupalModules.com

Upload Modules
Files needed to be uploaded to either:
/sites/all/modules/ or:
/sites/default/modules/
*** do not upload to /modules/
OR
use the new installer!

The OSWay
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Introduction
Install
Create
Extend
Design
Practice

B. Themes
Each theme has different block positions

Theme Sources
1) Free themes
2) Commercial themes ($50 to $250)
3) Theme Generator ($100)
4) Custom ($2000 and upwards)

1) Free Themes
Drupal.org/project/Themes

2) Commercial Themes
RocketTheme.com

FusionDrupalThemes.com

3) Theme Generator
Artisteer.com

Layout Recap

Views Workflow
1) Simple Views
2) Views
1. Display
2. Format
3. Fields
4. Filter
5. Sort

Panels Workflow
1) Panels > Choose page
2) Basic settings
3) Choose the layout
4) Place the content

3. Blocks

User Workflow
1) Roles
2) Permissions
3) Users
4) Masquerade module to
test user accounts

Things to Remember

Drupal Beginner Workflow

1) Install (4 ways)
2) Create (Content)
3) Extend (Modules)
4) Design (Views, Panels &Themes)
5) Practice, Practice, Practice
(OSTraining.com)

Content Workflow
1) Content types
2) Fields (if extra data needed)
3) Taxonomy (if categories needed)
Vocabulary
Terms
4) Create Content

Extend/Design Workflow

Modules / Themes Workflow

1) Download
2) Install
3) Enable
4) Configure

User Workflow
1) Roles
2) Permissions
3) Users
4) Masquerade module to
test user accounts

Put it all together...

Over to you

Practice, Practice, Practice

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